Tuesday, April 26, 2011

This Ain't Yo Mamma's Streamers & Balloons!

I am constantly trying to think of ways to reinvent the typical party decor. No offense to Party City or to the patrons of PC but I walk down those aisles of luau plastic tablecloths & the tissue paper fanned centerpieces...and think "no ma'm" (quote from a friend Wendy that says it so perfectly the words here do not adequately describe the feeling behind it ;p). Let's stir the margarita mix, shake up some cocktails...(I never was good with sayings any ways) and add a little NeNe Leakes attitude to it...

Old School = Streamers twisted, strung across the room & Balloons placed at the ends

New School (Parties for Pennies Way) = Cool lanterns made with streamers & balloons

I'm gonna give you the dessert before the veggies. Here's the final product:


The materials are things you probably have in your house. If you don't have them, it cost me under $5 for the whole kit & kaboodle. 


Materials:

* Streamers (color of your choice)
* Balloons (color of your choice...I did corresponding colors w/ the streamers)
* Roll on dot scotch tape
* Scissors
* I used dental floss to hang them from the chandelier but you can use whatever you have or desire


Step 1: Blow up the balloon (want me to go over that one more time or you got it? :p jk)


Step 2: Take the Scotch Adhesive Dot Roller and make a circle around the base of the balloon.
(helpful tip...blow the balloon up to where it's pretty tight. I tried to do the first balloon somewhat loose and it ended up like this..)


Poor little shriveled up ruffly thing! :-( 

Step 3: Take the streamers & along the adhesive line, pleat them.


Step 4: Once you have a circle, make another adhesive line around the original one. (Helpful hint - Make it almost in a swirl so that the transition from each circle doesn't require you to cut the streamer)




Step 5: Continue to do this all the way to the top of the balloon. 


Step 6: Once you've reached the top, cut the streamer.


Boom, Boom, Pow (hopefully that won't literally be happening to your balloons...)


Here's a little makeshift table that I set up to go along with the balloons. My white plates are already over at Mike's house, so I had to go with styrofoam plates. Oh well. 

I used the same streamers to make a plaid design on the table. For the napkin "rings", I also used the streamers to make pink flowers. Here's how you can do that...


Start with one folded end of the streamer.


Then pleat the paper, like you did with the balloons, and loosely gather it around the original "bud." Take a twist-tie & secure the base of the flower. You can also use floral wire or tape...this was just all I had. 


Use the remaining portion of the twist tie to secure to a strip of the green streamer. 


Wrap this around your napkin & tape.


Here are a few more shots of the NYMB&S...



What do you think? Do you have any creative ideas of what to do with streamers & balloons?

I don't know about you but I'm suddenly getting a huge craving for Bubble Yum Watermelon gum!!!! :-) Have a great week!
























5 comments:

  1. Love the lantern look - my dad suggested slipping a little l.e.d. light into the balloon before you blow it up. Maybe you could fit in one of those little electronic tea lights? If it would work, it would look great for the lights-out, ready to blow out the candles moment of a birthday party!

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  2. That is a GREAT idea! After I got done...my wheels started turning & I thought...I wonder what would happen if I put one of those glow sticks in there??? Hmmm...there's one way to find out! :p I have a little LED light too that I could try out. Let the experiments begin!

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  3. Rew, they look great! I love how when you told me what you were working on it looked nothing like this in my head. Most likely a lack of creative thinking on my part. :)

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  4. Those are great! I've been looking for something else to do with streamers for my daughter's party - love these ideas :)

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